Semi-formal, explained

Semi-formal means dressed up but not stiff: a suit for men, a dress or elegant separates for women.

Semi-formal sits between cocktail and dressy casual. It suits evening dinners, the theatre, a smart party, or a wedding where the couple want no stiffness.

Men wear a suit, tie optional, in a colour that reads considered. Women wear a dress, a tailored jumpsuit or elegant separates, in dressy but not theatrical fabric.

People mix up semi-formal and cocktail. Semi-formal is the gentler one: you can drop the tie, wear a midi instead of a mini, and choose softer colour. Cocktail wants more polish and more evening.

The lever · The shoes decide the level; a polished leather shoe or a heel makes even a simple outfit read semi-formal.

Also for this code: For men · For women